Upon receiving a copy of Chosen But Free, I decided I should also read through James White’s response entitled, The Potter’s Freedom. In my estimation, White has done the Christian community a great service in countering Geisler’s less than worthy critique of Calvinism.
The Potter’s Freedom (PF) is a direct response to Chosen But Free (CBF). To make the best use of PF, one must also have a coy of CBF handy. White divides PF into fourteen chapters. His aim is to present a biblical response to Geisler’s criticism of Calvinism as well as to offer a biblical primer on the basic tenets of Calvinism in general.
White accomplishes in PF what Geisler does not in CBF. White provides lengthy and detailed discussions of biblical passages crucial to the Calvinist-Arminian debate. He anticipates the arguments for and against Calvinism and offers biblical support for his conclusions. While one may reject his conclusions, it will not be because White did not offer cogent and extensive explanations of biblical passages related to the core issues. I found his chapters on Romans 9 and Particular Redemption to be some of the best material in the book. He gives extensive evaluation of the texts expositionally as well as dealing with Geisler’s comments in CBF.
The one drawback in reading through PF is that if someone has not read CBF or have a copy nearby, he/she will find it difficult to stay focused on the doctrinal issues evaluated.
James White has not only defended the doctrines of grace from a clearly biblical perspective, he has also handily refuted the erroneous claims of Norman Geisler in CBF. If you want a book that handles the primary arguments against Calvinism, James White’s The Potter’s Freedom will provide a very helpful evaluation.
Hi;
James White’s book is a tempest in a thimble! The reason is… in all that he writes White still believes Arminians are Christians! In fact he himself testifies that he [thinks] he was saved as an Arminian.
James
James, thanks for the comment. You don’t think Dr. White adequately answered Dr. Geisler and provided a fairly cogent defense of Calvinism?
Hello Bret;
No doubt Mr White does as you say in his book but that’s not the point. Clearly Arminians believe in another gospel which places them under the curse of God according to Gal 1:6-9. Yet James White says they’re saved anyway thereby sharing in their wickedness according to 2John 9. The point is… it is Mr White himself who is a most dangerous enemy of the Gospel and must be regarded with extreme caution. Go ask him if he believes Arminians are saved and if believes he himself was saved as an Arminian. He admitted that to me when I spoke with him myself. James White is an enemy of the Gospel because he believes in -two- gospels both valid. See my web article on Dead Calvinists.
James
Well, James, I don’t think you and I would see eye to eye on this either. I’m pretty confident that the particular issue Paul is addressing in Gal 1:6-9 is not Calvinism, the Corinthians had tampered with elements of the gospel far worse than many Arminians I know and he did not condemn them as enemies of the cross. There were those who were preaching the gospel out of selfish ambtition, trying to cause Paul more hardship (Philippians 1:17) and he actually rejoiced in it. There are many more such examples. It doesn’t seem to me that you would share Paul’s view of gospel ministry.